Olivetti

December 18, 2023
Olivetti—a polite and observant dark green typewriter—and an introverted 12-year-old narrate Millington’s unique debut. Olivetti takes his job as a “protector of memories” seriously. Despite the recent appearance of a laptop (“the glossy show-off”), Olivetti has accumulated “an endless amount of memories” working with owner Beatrice. His patient existence is upended when he’s abruptly sold to a pawn shop and Beatrice goes missing, leaving her husband and four children—including middle schooler Ernest—confused and alarmed. While putting up missing-person flyers, Ernest meets dumpster-diving Quinn, whose father owns the pawn shop. Aided by Olivetti, Ernest and Quinn team up to solve the mystery of Beatrice’s disappearance, and as they try untangling Beatrice’s whereabouts, Ernest frets that his reluctance to speak to a therapist about a mysterious, traumatic family event caused his mother’s departure. While the tantalizing premise is hampered by cliché characterizations, incomplete worldbuilding, and a limp mystery, Olivetti’s snarky observations entertain, and the human protagonists’ endearing support for each other’s endeavors paints a worthwhile portrait of community. Ernest and his family have “copper-colored” skin; other characters default to white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Kristen Terrette, Martin Literary.